New York Signs Midfielder Lloyd Sam

August 16, 20129:53 AM EDT

HARRISON, NJ (August 16, 2012) – The New York Red Bulls announced today that the club has signed midfielder Lloyd Sam. The 27-year-old will be available for selection pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 visa.

“Lloyd has impressed our coaching staff during his trial in New York and we are pleased to sign him,” said Red Bulls General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. “He is someone who has good speed and can play a number of roles in our squad.”

A native of Leeds, England, Sam joins the Red Bulls after most recently featuring for English League One (third division) side Notts County. Sam joined the club on loan from Leeds United in March 2012 and scored five goals in 10 appearances, highlighted by a hat trick on April 9 as Notts County knocked off Yeovil Town, 3-1. From the 2010-11 season until his loan to Notts County, Sam played in 35 matches for Leeds United in England’s Championship, scoring twice.

Sam started his professional career with English side Charlton Athletic, then of the Premier League, in 2003 at the age of 18. In 2004, he went on loan to League One side Leyton Orient, appearing in 10 matches. He had two additional loan spells while with Charlton, spending time in 2006 with Championship side Sheffield Wednesday and in 2007 with Southend United. Sam became a fixture in Charlton’s starting lineup beginning with the 2007-08 season in the Championship and continued there until his final season with the club, when Charlton played in League One in 2009-10. Overall, Sam made 119 appearances for Charlton, scoring six times.